He founded and erected a collegiate church
near his castle of Roslin, which he largely
endowed, anno 1441, and for architecture and
workmanship, it is thought a master-piece of
its kind at this day.
He was constituted lord high chancellor of
Scotland, anno 1455, and that same year was
sent ambassador to England, to negotiate some
affairs of the utmost importance, which he
managed with dexterity and success; and up∣on
his return, anno 1556, got a grant of the
ea••ldom of Caithness, and was afterwards pro∣miscuously
designed comes Orcadiae et Catha∣niae,
&c.
He married, 1st, lady Margaret, daughter
of Archibald earl of Douglas and duke of Tu∣renne,
by whom he had a son,
William, designed lord Newburgh, ancestor
of lord Sinclair's family, (vide title lord Sin∣clair)
—and a daughter,
Lady Catharine, married to Alexander duke
of Albany.
He married, 2dly, Elizabeth, daughter of
Alexander Sutherland of Dunbeath, by whom
he had four sons.
1. William, in whose favours he resigned
the earldom of Caithness.
2. Sir Oliver, ancestor of the Sinclairs of
Roslin, who got from his father the lands,
castle, and barony of Roslin, with several o∣thers,
which appears by charters in the pu∣blic
register; and it may here be observed, that
the family of Roslin have always contended,
that sir Oliver was the eldest son of the se∣cond
marriage, tho' the family of Caithness
never yielded it.
The earl's third son, of the second marriage,
was sir David Sinclair knight.
4. John, who was bishop of Caithness.
He died before 1480, and, according to
the above-mentioned resignation, was succeed∣ed
in the earldom of Caithness by his son,
II. WILLIAM, second earl of Caithness,
who got a charter, under the great seal, Wil∣lielmo
Sinclair, terrarum comitatus Cathaniae;
with charters of many other lands and baronies.
He married Mary, daughter of sir William
Keith of Innerugy, by whom he had two sons.
1. John, his heir.
2. Alexander, designed of Stempster, of
whom the Sinclairs of Dunbeath are descended.
He was killed, with many of his brave
countrymen, at the fatal field of Floudon, an∣no
1513, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
III. JOHN, third earl of Caithness, who
got charters, under the great seal, Johanni co∣miti
Cathaniae, of a great many lands and ba∣ronies.
He married Elizabeth, daughter of sir Willi∣am
Sutherland of Dussus, by whom he had
a son,
George, his heir.
He was unhappily killed at an insurrection
of the inhabitants of Orkney, on 29th May
1529, and was succeeded by his son,
IV. GEORGE, fourth earl of Caithness,
who was constituted justiciar within the
bounds of Caithness, by queen Mary, anno
1566, and was one of the peers who sat on
the trial of James earl of Bothwell, anno 1568.
He got charters, under the great seal, of
several lands and baronies, Georgio comiti Ca∣thanioe,
&c.
He died in an advanced age, anno 1583,
leaving issue by lady Elizabeth Graham, his
spouse, daughter of William earl of Montrose,
two sons and three daughters.
1. John, master of Caithness.
2. George, who married Margaret, daugh∣ter
of William lord Forbes, and was ancestor
of the Sinclairs of May.
1st daughter, lady Beatrix, married to A∣lexander
earl of Sutherland.
2. Lady Elizabeth, married, 1st, to Alex∣ander
Sutherland of Duffus: 2dly, to Hutch∣eon
M'Kye of Far, ancestor of lord Rae.
3. Lady Barbara, married to sir Alexan∣der
Innes of that ilk.
V. JOHN, master of Caithness, eldest son
and apparent heir of the fourth earl, got an
annuity out of the earldom of Caithness, lands
and barony of Cleish, Greenland, &c. upon
which he got a charter, under the great seal,
Johanni magistro de Caithness, &c.
He married lady Jean Hepburn, daughter
o•• P••trick earl of Bothwell and lord Hailes, by
whom he had four sons and one daughter.
1. George, afterwards earl of Caithness.
2. Sir James Sinclair of Murchil, ancestor
of the present earl, of whom afterwards.
3. John, ancestor of the Sinclairs of Green∣land,
now of Ratter.
4. David Sinclair.
His daughter, Agnes, married, 1st, to sir
George Home of Coldingknows, ancestor of
the earl of Home: 2dly, to Andrew earl of
Errol: 3dly, to Alexander Gordon of Strath∣airn.
He died anno 1577, and was succeeded by
his eldest son,
VI. GEORGE, who succeeded also to his
grandfather, anno 1583, and was fifth earl of
Caithness, and got charters, under the great
seal, of the whole earldom of Caithness,
Georgio comili Cathaniae, &c.